Dear Document Reviewer:
An Open Letter to Windows developers is written primarily for screen reader users. The ordinary user who must depend on some semi-accessible program in his job can now complain to its developer without having to be a computer wiz.
A typical user only knows that a program doesn't work with zoom-text, isn't speech friendly, or is difficult to access withCall For Reviewers. Complaining to the software manufacturer that the software doesn't work is ineffectual. Incoherent complaints can not help the developer solve the problem.need people with a Windows programming background to add technical tips.
Now, the ordinary user can continue to complain, and forward a copy of this letter, or a link to this letter to developers. Instead of just whining we are now raising the developer's awareness, and future programs made by that company may become more usable for us.
It is also critical that we let our voice be heard by open-source developers. Many open-source projects (a good example of this is audicy) are not accessible, simply because its developers are ignorant of our needs.
We can change that by forwarding them a link to this open letter.
But not yet!
This letter is just a draft, and sadly I'm not a windows developer. I have both a programming and a technical writing background but I don't have the skills to do this on my own.
I need your help. I invite you therefore to comment and criticize away. Please let me know what you don't like and what needs rewriting.
In particular, I need livelier and clearer examples. I need the expertise of Hal and WindowEyes users to flush my examples out. I need more technical information. I need to know what points I’ve left out.
In some instances, I might ignore your suggestions. I will do my best to create a letter that's easy and interesting for the developers to read. This means necessarily all examples can't be included and all cases can't be covered. I will pick from the best examples, and the clearest illustrations in my suggestion box.
So please, fill my inbox with those suggestions and we will make this Open Letter to Developers a reality.
Deborah Armstrong (formerly Norling)